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Canada’s senior men’s basketball camp got rolling on Sunday and the mood was a mix of optimism, excitement and sober realism.

It is well known that there has never been as much hoops talent to choose from and that the future is bright for a country that has not played at the Olympics since 2000.

But it is also apparent that clearing all of the hurdles to get everyone in one place, then getting everyone the experience necessary to compete on the national stage remains a long-term process.

“That’s what this summer is about,” head coach Jay Triano said at the ACC, where the team is gathered through Tuesday, before flying to Venice. Canada will play 11 exhibition games in four countries over the next few weeks and Triano intends to platoon his charges because of the heavy workload.

“I know last year we were a little bit disappointed that we didn’t qualify for the (World Cup in Spain), but at the same time we knew we had 22- and 23-year-old players as our best players on the floor and we needed to get them international experience,” Triano said.

“We need to go over to Europe and we need to see what the international game is, get them experience with playing for me. Get them experience playing the international game and then return to their NBA teams or their club teams and continue to improve. We’re still very, very infant in who we are as a basketball nation, but that’s going to change over the next two, four, six, eight years.”

“We couldn’t take them away from their teams. For a variety of reasons, there are different guys that aren’t going to be here, whether it’s contract issues or fatigue,” Triano explained.

“The guys that are here are going to represent Canada the best that they can. We’ve even asked some guys to not come on this trip. A guy like Joel Anthony (Boston) who has got a lot of international experience, we need to get some of these young players that type of feel for the international game.”

It is extremely difficult for any country to get its incoming rookies, college freshmen, or veterans close to signing lucrative extensions to play.

But general manager Steve Nash, still active as the NBA’s oldest player with the Lakers, is not ruling anything out.

“Everyone’s shown interest in being here, but for various reasons, it’s not that simple,” Nash said. “You’ve got the interest of the club, the players, level of health, fatigue, there’s a lot of factors. First and foremost, we want our young guys to be in good stead with their teams. I think some more guys could be here, but right now they are trying to fulfill their obligations to their teams.

“Andrew’s shown a lot of interest, right now he’s got a lot of attention on him, and a phenomenally difficult and trying last year, but his team is also really concerned about what he does and when he does it. But Andrew’s shown interest, the Cavs have shown interest and there’s a chance he could be here, I know he wants to be here, but right now he has to fulfill his obligations to his team first and foremost and then, once he’s in good footing there, we can work on getting him in here.”

In the meantime, this group, which also includes veterans like Carl English, Jevohn Shepherd and Junior Cadougan, will get some experience that should prove crucial next summer, when Canada goes into Olympic qualifying, likely with a fortified roster.

“While we have a tremendous talent pool, it’s a very difficult task to qualify for the Olympics when conceivably there’s one or two spots in the Americas to win,” Nash said.

“That can be an extremely difficult task and our guys need a little experience this summer to give them a chance to do it next summer.”

CANADA’S SCHEDULE

Canada did not qualify for the World Cup in Spain later this summer, but the senior men will still play 11 exhibition games in order to get some much-needed experience ahead of Olympic qualifying next August.

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Team Canada in it for the long haul

Canada’s senior men’s basketball camp got rolling on Sunday and the mood was a mix of optimism, excitement and sober realism.

It is well known that there has never been as much hoops talent to choose from and that the future is bright for a country that has not played at the Olympics since 2000.

But it is also apparent that clearing all of the hurdles to get everyone in one place, then getting everyone the experience necessary to compete on the national stage remains a long-term process.

“That’s what this summer is about,” head coach Jay Triano said at the ACC, where the team is gathered through Tuesday, before flying to Venice. Canada will play 11 exhibition games in four countries over the next few weeks and Triano intends to platoon his charges because of the heavy workload.

“I know last year we were a little bit disappointed that we didn’t qualify for the (World Cup in Spain), but at the same time we knew we had 22- and 23-year-old players as our best pla

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